Black Cherry
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Open-pollinated cherry from USA, 2003. The dark heirloom flavour in cherry form: smoky, sweet and wine-like. Ready in about 75 days from transplant.
- Open-pollinated
- 75 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Cherry-size fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Cherry ~1 oz (15–25 g) · Round (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Black
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Black Cherry is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Flavor
“The dark heirloom flavour in cherry form: smoky, sweet and wine-like.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Snacking
- Fresh & salads
- High flavor
- Kid friendly
- High yield
- Market favorite
Origin
Black Cherry brought the flavour of the large dark heirlooms down to cherry size, which had not really existed before it. It was found as a natural cross by Vince Sapp of Tomato Growers Supply and released in 2003 with its parentage undisclosed; within a few years it had gone from two commercial sources to nearly every catalogue. The plants are vigorous and long, and the fruit holds the smoky, wine-like depth of a Black Krim in something you can eat by the handful.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $3.45Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
| True Leaf Market | Seeds | $3.59Checked Sep 16, 2026 | 250Mg Packet | Check availability | Buy |
| Eden Brothers | Seeds | $4.49Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet | Check availability | Buy |
| Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds | Seeds | Check price at shop | Packet size not listed | Check availability | Buy |
- BuyTomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (30 seeds)
Check availability
$3.45Checked Sep 16, 2026 - BuyTrue Leaf MarketSeeds
250Mg Packet
Check availability
$3.59Checked Sep 16, 2026 - BuyEden BrothersSeeds
Packet
Check availability
$4.49Checked Sep 16, 2026 - BuyBaker Creek Heirloom SeedsSeeds
Packet size not listed
Check availability
Check price at shop
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Black Cherry tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Black Cherry tomatoes -
Black Cherry tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Black Cherry tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Black Cherry tomatoes -
Black Cherry tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Black Cherry take to mature?
Black Cherry is ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Does Black Cherry need staking?
Black Cherry is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Can Black Cherry be grown in a container?
Black Cherry is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Black Cherry resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Black Cherry.
See also
Other cherry varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, midseason, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
